Station-indicator.



v PATBNTED APR. 24,;1906. J. B. TAPLBY & E. HOVEY.

STATION INDICATOR. APPLIGATION FILED APR. 5, 1904. KI IKEWED JULY 11.1905.

is SHEETS-SHEET 2.

V hum/0w J mifllfaw UNITED STATES pagan-T OFFICE.

JOHN E. TAPLEY AND ALFRED E. HOVEY, OF CASS LAKE, MINNESOTA.

STATION-INDICATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented A ril '24, 19c 6.

pplication filed April 5, 1904. Renewed July 11, 1905. Serial No.269,274.

To all-whom it may concern.

Be it known that we,'JoHN E. TAPLEY and ALFRED E. HoVEY, citizens of theUnited States, residing at Cass Lake, in the county of Cass and State ofMinnesota, have jointly invented certain new and useful Improvements inStation-Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

Ourinvention relates to that class of indicators particularly designedfor use on railway-cars, street-cars, and other vehicles for displayingor otherwise indicating the names of the streets or stations along theroute.

. The object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive, durable, andefficient device'of this character in which a pair of intermeshingtoothed drums are actuated through the medium of suitable levers to Windand unwind a ribbon, belt, or similar indicating device upon a pair ofrollers, so as to display a symbol at an opening in the casing orhousing at predetermined intervals.

A'further object of the invention is to provide a pawl-carrying barpivotally mounted between the intermeshing drums and upon which arepivoted a push-pawl and a pullpawl adapted to alternately engage theteeth on the drums for rotating the same, and, further, to provide areversing-lever for changing the direction of rotation of said drums,said lever serving to lock one'of the pawls in inoperative position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a pair ofspringactuated rollers adapted to be rotated with a stepby-step movementfor winding or unwinding the indicator belt or ribbon, and, further, toprovide means for regulating the spring tension upon said rollers andmeans for limiting the extent of movement of the ribbon or belt.'

Vith these and other objects in view the invention consists in theconstruction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafterfully described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it beingunderstood that various changes in the form, pro-.

portions, and minor details of construction may be resorted to withoutdeparting fromthe principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of thisinvention within the scope of the ap ended claims.

11 the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a front elevationof acasing or housing containing theindicator mechanism, a portion of the ribbon being exposed at an openlng1n the front. a Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the interior frame andoperating mechanism removed from the casing. Fig. 3 is a side elevationviewed from the left of Fig. 2, showing the operative parts in positionfor moving the ribbon ,upwardly. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing theoperative parts in position for moving the ribbon in the reversedirection. Fig. 5 is a side elevation with the intermeshing drums andother portions of the device removed. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectionalview on the line z of Fig. 1 viewed toward the right and enlarged. Figs.7, 8, 9, and 10 show detached views of certain of the operating-leversand their connections.

In. the drawings, 1 desi nates the indicator box or casing, preferablyheated in the front portion of the car and having in its face atransverse openin 2, through which may be seen a portion of t eindicator ribbon or belt 3. A cord 4 is attached to the arm of a lever5, with its free end extended the desired direction and distance toenable the conductor, motorman, or other profper person to opace of thecasing adjacent to the slot or opening 2 may appear erate the ribbon. Onthe the word Next, as shown, or other suitable word or words. Within thecasing l is secured a main frame 6 and supplemental frame 7 of anysuitable construction for supporting the operating mechanism.

The ribbon 3 has its ends attached to the rollers or spools 8 and 9, thejournal-bearings of which are in boxes 10 and 11, provided on the frame6. At one side ofthe frame the spool arbors or shafts 12' carry pinions13, which mesh with gears 14, and the latter are borne by arbors 15,journaled on the main frame 6 and supplemental frame 7. Clocksprings 16or equivalent coiled springs have their ends connected, respectively, tothe arbors 15 and the studs 17 on the frame 7, and

rings or handles 18 on the arborsenable the spring to be wound to theproper extent to exert the desired tension throu h the arbors and gearsupon the ribbon-spoo s. By these means. the proper tension in oppositedirections may be exerted and'maintained upon the ribbon to keep it tautas it is being wound or unwound from either spool to the other,

for the reason that the arbors carrying the springs and gear-wheels willmake comparatively few turns, while the shafts or arbors carrying thepinions and spools make the greater number of rotations necessary towind or unwind the ribbon.

ings in journal-boxes 23 on the frame 6.

ts 21, arranged at corresponding intervals in the ribbon, or the openingmay be formed in a band or chain attached to the margins of the'ribbon.

The axis or shaft 22 of the drum has bear- An idle roller 24, supportedby the frame, may be utilized for holding the ribbon in proper placeclose to the casing-opening 2. v

For stopping and holding the feed drum or cylinder 19 in position whenit has been rotated a predetermined distance a disk or wheel 25 issecured to the shaft, or axis 22, said wheel being provided with aseries of spaced notches or recesses 26 for the reception of rollers 27carried by pivoted levers or dogs 28. The dmgs 28 are pivotallysupported on studs 29 and held in engagement with the notched wheel bysprings 30. The pivoted dogs not only serve to hold the drum in placewhile the feed-pawls are disengaged, but also serve to rotate itslightly forward or backward by pressure of the rollers on the notchedwheels at thepoi'nts 31 of entrance to the notches when the feedmovements of the pawls fail to rotate the drum the exact distance reuired. This operation is effected by having t e tension of thedog-springs sufficient to overcome the resistance of the springs 1 6that control the ribbon-spools, and its purpose is to. insure thepresentation of the proper portion of the ribbon at the opening in theindicator box or casing, whether the feed movements of the ribbon are inan upward or downwarddirection.

The devices for operating the drum or cylinder 19 are as follows:Mounted on one end of the shaft or axis 22 is a toothed drum 33, whichmeshes with a similar toothed drum "'35, mounted on anarbor or shaft 36,having,

drum 35 will serve to revolve the cylinder in the opposite direction,the rotation of the drums being effected by means of a rill-pawl 38 anda push-pawl 39. "The paw s 38 and 39 are pivoted on'the lower portion ofa bar 40, as indicated'at 38 and 39, respectively,

the upper end of the bar being connected by a pivot 41 to a block 41,which is secured on the frame 6, whereby the pawl-carrying bar isfulcrumed at its upper end and its lower sponding end of'the bar 40.

between the lowerv end end free to be oscillated. The inner end of eachpawl is connected to the end of the bar by a spring 42, which tends. tohold the outer end of the pawl in engagement with the appropriatetoothed drum. To hold oneof the pawls in operative position and theother in inoperative position, a reversing-lever 43 is connected by apivot 44 to the bar 40 near the pawls, said.

widened upper, end of the lever 43 and pins 48, projecting into the slotfrom the corre- These pins fit loosely in the slot 47, so that the upperend of the -lever 43 is free to move laterally on the upper end of thebar 40 to the extent permitted by the slot and pins. To the upper por;

tion of the lever 43' is connected a bar 49,

adapted to actuate said lever to thereby change the direction ofrotation of the indicator belt or ribbon. lhe outer end of the bar 49projects'outside the box or casing and is there connected to a suitablehand-lever 50, having a spring-dog 51 for engagement with the notchedplate 52. In Fig. 3 the regulating-lever and the adjusted parts are inposition to cause the ribbon to be moved. step by step in an upwarddirection, while in Fig. 4 the same devices are shown in position toproduce a reverse movement. of the ribbon. In the former the pawl 39 isin position to engage its toothed drum, while in the latter figure thepawl 38 .is in operative position.

I In both cases the movement of the ribbon is effected by theescillatory bar 40 through the medium of a horizontally-disposed bar 53,"the latter formin a pivotal connection of the bar and the opcrating-lever 5, asshown. The bar 49 may be provided with a 'retractilespring 54. A similar spring 55 is provided for actuating the bar '53,the outward or feeding movement of the latter being effected by theoperation of the lever 5 bymeans of the cord 4. The pawl-carrying barv4O .is also mounted for movement in a curved plate or guide 56.

In operation to-move the indicator belt or TCO ribbon upwardly one step,as from the position shown in Fig. 1, where the characters 25th St. areshown as coincident with the slot 2, it is only necessary to operate thelever 5 sufficiently to cause the pawl 39 to make its thrust and movethe toothed drum the space of one tooth. Such movement will cause thegear-wheel 34 to turn the gearwheel 32 a partial rotation in itsopposite direction, and thereby correspondingly partially turn thecylinder 19, and by engagemerit of the pins 20 with the eyelets 21 feed.

the ribbon upward one step or so as to present the next indicatorcharacter or characters (in this instance 26th St) opposite the slot oropening 2. To reverse the direction of movement of the ribbon, theregulator-lever 50 must be moved, as from its position in Fig. 3 to thatshown in Fig. 4, so as to shift the reversing-lever 43 and move the pawl39 to inoperative position and the'pawl 38 into position to en age teethon the adjacent drum, whereby t e operation of the lever 5 will pull thelatter pawl downward, and

. thereby turn the toothed drum 33 and the of the springs 16 in oppositedirections upon the two spools serves to hold the ribbon taut, whetherit is equally or unequally distributed upon the spools.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a stationor street indicator, an indicator-ribbon, a pair of spools upon and fromwhich it is wound, coil-springs for exerting tension upon thespool-axes, an intermediate rotary feed device having means for engaging the ribbon to move it, a gear-wheel on the feed -device axes, asecond gear-wheel in mesh therewith, toothed drums mounted for rotationwith said gear-wheels, a pawl-carrier, a pair of pawls mounted thereon,means for adjusting said pawls to move the same alternately toinoperative position, and means for operating the pawls.

2. In a station or street indicator, an indicator-ribbon, a pair ofspools upon and from which it is'wound, coil-springs for exertingtension upon the spool-axes, an intermediate rotary feed device, havingmeans for engaging theribbon tomov e it, a ear-wheel on the feed deviceaxis, a secon gear -wheel in mesh therewith, toothed drums mounted forrotation with said gear-wheels, a pawl-carrier, a pair of pawls carriedthereby, means for adjusting said pawls to move the same alternately toinoperative position, means for actuatin the pawls, spring-dogs providedwith rol ers on their engagm ends, and a wheel or disk on the axis of te feed device and provided with a series of peripheral sockets in whichsaid rollers register.

3. In a station or street indicator, an indicator-ribbon, a pair ofspools upon. and from which it is wound, coil-springs for exertingtension upon the spool-axes, an intermediate rotary feed device havingmeans for engag ing the ribbon to move it, a ear-wheel on the feeddevice axis, a second gearwheel in mesh therewith, toothed drums mountedfor rotation with said gear-wheels, a pawl-car=- rier, spring-pawlsmounted thereon, a lever fulcrumed on said carrier and having armsarranged to move either pawl outzofpperative position, means forpositioning said lever, and means for actuating the pawl-carrier.

4. In a station or street indicator, 'an'indi cator-ribbon, a pair ofspools upon and from which it is wound, coil-springs for exertingtension upon the spool-axes, an intermediate rotary feed device havingmeans forengaging the ribbon to move it, a ear-wheel on the feed deviceaxis, a secon gear -wheel in mesh therewith, toothed drums mounted forrotation with said gear-wheels, a pawl-can rier, spring-pawls mountedthereon, a lever fulcrumed on said carrier and having arms arranged tomove either pawl out of operative position, means outside the casin andinterior connections for adjusting said lever on its fulcrum to controlthe positions ofthe pawls, and means outside the casing and interiorconnections for reciprocating the pawlcarrier to actuate the operativepawl.

5. In a device of the class described, an indicator-ribbon havingperforations near its edges, a pair of spools upon and from which it iswound, coil-springs for exerting tension upon the spool-axes, anintermediate rotary feed device having projections for engaging theribbon-perforations, to move it, a gearwheel on the feed-device axis, asecond gearwheel in mesh therewith, toothed drums mounted for rotationwith the gear-wheels, a pair of pawls, means for adjusting said pawlsalternately to inoperative position, means for actuating the pawls toturn the feed device, and means for holding said feed device in placeupon completion of the feed movement. 4 v

6. In a device of the class described, an indicator-ribbon having.perforations near its edges, a pair of spools upon and from which it iswound, coil-springs for exerting tension upon the spool-axes, anintermediate rotary feed device having projections for engaging theperforations in the ribbon to move the *latter, a pair of intermeshinggear-wheels,

toothed drums mounted for rotation with said gear-wheels, .a swingingpawl-carrier, a I pair of pawls carried thereby, a reversing-leverfulcrumed on said carrier and having arms arranged to move either pawlout of operative position, means for positioning said lever, and meansfor actuating the pawl-carrier;

7. In a device of the class described, a casing provided with adisplay-opening, an indicator-operating means including a air ofintermeshing toothed drums, a paw -carrying ILO was. a a...

bar pivoted between. said drums, a pair of pawls carried by the pivotedend-0f the bar and adapted to alternately engage the teeth on thedrums,an indicator operable by said drums to successively display a symlml atsaid opening, and means for normally holding one of said pawls out ofengagement with the teeth of the adjacent drum.

8. in a device of the class descrgibed, an indicator-operating meansincluding a pushpawl, a pulhpawl, an operating means connecting the two,a pair of intermeshing toothed drums engaged by said pawls, an indicatoroperable by said drums, and means for alternately throwing said pawlsinto and out of engagementwith the drums to thereby reverse thedirection of movement of the indicator.

In a device of the'classdescrib'ed, anin dicator-operating meansincluding a pair of .intermeshing toothed drums, a, pawl-carrying barpivoted between said drums, pawls carried by the bar and adapted toalternately engage the teeth on the drums, an indicator operable by thelatter, and a reversing-lever pivoted to and movable with thepawl-carrymg bar and adapted to disengage one of the pawls from theteeth on the adjacent drum" to thereby reverse the direction of movementof the indicator. i

10. In a device of the class described, an indicator operating meansincluding a plurality of intermeshing gear-wheels, toothed drums securedto sanlgears, a pawl-carrying bar pivoted between the drums, pawlspivoted to the bar and adapted to engage the teeth on said. drums, anindicatoroperable b the drums, means for adjusting said pawlsalternately to inoperable position to thereby reverse the direction ofmovement of the indicator, and means for locking one of said pawls ininoperative position.

11. In a device of the class described, the combination with a casing,shafts ournaled the casing, intermeshing toothed drums mounted on theshafts, a pawlcarrying bar pivoted between said drums, an. indicatoroperable by the drums, a notched wheel fixed to the shaft of one of thedrums, pawls carried by the pivoted end. of the bar and adapted toengage the teeth on said drums,

a reversing-lever pivoted to the bar for moving the pawls alternately'toinoperative posi tions to thereby reverse the direction of rotation ofthe indicator, and a..springpressed lever provided witha terminal rolleradapted to engage the notched wheel.

12. In a device of the class described, the

combination/ with a casing, intermeshing.

pawl/a pullpawl, an operating means connecting the two, an indicatoroperable by said pawls to successively display a symbol a t saidopening, and a reversing-lever having a substantially if-shaped headprovided with laterally extending pins "adapted to engage said pawls formoving the latter alternately to inoperative position. I

14. In a device of the class described, a casing provided. with adisplay-opening, an indicator o eratin means includirn a aWl-v carryingbar having a push and a pull pawl pivoted thereto, an indicator operableby said pawls to successively display a symbol at said opening, areversing-lever pivoted to i said bar and having one end thereof slottedand its opposite end provided with laterallyeXtending pins adapted toengage said pawls, and a pin secured to said bar and adapted to engagethe slot in the reversing-lever.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 26th day of March, 1904.

JOHN E. TAPLEY. ALFRED E. HOVEY.

Witnesses GEORGE A. LYDIGK, 'l. Larsen.

